Perfect outdoorsman knife

Lots of good knives here, I especially like that one by Tom Mayo. Also, you can't possibly go wrong with a Randall model 25.
 
Dozier KS-3; Professional Guide's Knife.
D-2 takes and keeps a wicked edge, easy to resharpen.
Clip point us useful for tons of tasks.
Perfect length blade.
Extremely comfy Micarta handle.
Awesome Kydex sheath.
All this for a very reasonable price.
A real cuttin' machine.
I stupidly sold my 1st one to Hoodoo; see the picture above.
That's why I have another one on order.
Should be here first week in June.
I can't wait!
Lenny

[This message has been edited by Lenny (edited 05-19-2001).]
 
Camp Knife means different things to different people. On the one hand, clearing a camp site, chopping, digging, trenching, splitting wood and the like are all camp chores. So is peeling potatoes, slicing fruits and vegetables, and sometimes skinning, butchering and other more delicate chores.

The attributes that make a knife perform in the former tasks are contra-designed to the traits of a good knife in the latter catagory.

The things that I like in the Busse Steel Heart, Basic #9 and Chris Reeve Project 1 do not lend themselves to things that the lowly (yet adorable) Buck Pathfinder can do well.

So, what type of camping you do and what you plan on doing with your Camp Knife have more to do with things than design and steel type. If I have the luxury of a good axe, a shovel and a machete - my choice of knife would be very different than without one or more of these tools.

I don't know if I answered you question or muddies the waters. Maybe I did both.
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Nimrod:
Camp Knife means different things to different people. On the one hand, clearing a camp site, chopping, digging, trenching, splitting wood and the like are all camp chores. So is peeling potatoes, slicing fruits and vegetables, and sometimes skinning, butchering and other more delicate chores.

The attributes that make a knife perform in the former tasks are contra-designed to the traits of a good knife in the latter catagory.
</font>
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Absolutely right. You can look at my camp knife, pictured above with a 4" blade and 1/8" steel, and figure out which one I concentrate on. When someone posts a big bowie, I know they're on the other side of the house -- chopping, splitting, etc.

Years ago, I decided that I was not satisfied with any of the mid-sized knives that can chop a bit and cut a bit, but do neither particularly well. I know the 5"-7", somewhat stout camp knife is popular, I personally have no use for it though. There's no right or wrong here, of course, and it's evident others have found that a mid-size knife is what works for them.

But, speaking strictly for me: I feel that my TTKK will cut rings around the mid-sized knives for the types of cutting jobs you do most in camp, and I'll take along something like a folding saw, 12" machete, or small axe for bigger jobs (often not used because of zero-impact camping philosophy). Judging by the number of people in my group who carry bigger knives, but come by constantly to borrow the TTKK or Deerhunter for their cutting chores, I think there's operational consensus on this, even if it isn't reflected in what they purchase
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Joe
 
Originally posted by Nimrod:
Camp Knife means different things to different people.

I couldn't agree more. It's always subject to personal opinion.

What I wanted to do in this post is hear what everyone likes about the knives in their collections and wish lists, and of course to see these great pictures. This gives me an idea what my next knife purchases will be.

When I go out on the land, I rarely get to call any knife my "carry" knife, because I'm forever bringing new ones in the bush to try them out. My recon scout was with me the longest, about five years or more. But, as with most of you, the status quo will not do, especially with knives. I must keep searching for the knife I'll call perfect this week, and then I'll find a diffent one next issue of TK, or the next time I look at this forum. That's all part of the fun of knives for me.

BTW, the worst hazzard I've encountered is seeing old knives for sale, fetching big money, and I have one or two like it, but I've beaten the daylights out of them, and rarely even use them anymore. If only I didn't use/beat-up/wreck that knife, I could sell it, and buy this new one to use/beat-up/wreck.

Oh well, such is knife, re, life.

JET

P.S. Keep the knives & pictures coming!
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Joe--You're a man after my own heart.

I find the little featherweight AG Russell Deerhunter to be the most effortless knife I've ever used on game, and that paper-thin profile cuts like magic. Your hand never gets tired, and that hi-ergo nylon grip and drop point make it a weightless extension of your hand. If you stick to low-stress tasks, the Deerhunter is unbeatable.

I also really like your comments on drop-edge design. In fact, just last week I had that same conversation with Kit Carson while ordering a short-blade, drop-edge version of his U2 in Stellite. I imagine it will look like a close relative of your Rinaldi piece.

Bottom line, if you can carry more than one tool, make at least one a 4-5" blade utility. Then add choppers--hatchets, machete, etc.--as needed.

-w
 
Thought I might mention what I have used as my outdoor/camping knife for the past 7or 8 years. A Pack River camp knife constructed out od D-2 steel with a cocobolo handle and stainless fittings. Has a flat ground edge and is a simple, no frills, hardworking, camp knife. The blade is 9" in length and is constructed od 3/16 D-2 steel. An overall length of 14 1/4" give me a knife I use for chopping wood to slicing bacon!

I don't know if Pack River Knife Co. is still around or not, but Steve Mullin is and he was this company. This is what I use as my main camp knife.

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Art Sigmon
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
Php. 4:13

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword"
Heb. 4:12
 
Are you looking for one single knife or a knife that fits the role amid others.

In a single knife equation, you need a single knife that will do all things required,even if it is not the best tool for the job.

So given a single knife only equation, you probably will pick something capable of chopping and splitting wood in addition to cutting tomatoes and onions for a stew. This to me mean a BIG camp knife. Now if I have one of these monster camp knives on my belt and get confronted with angry piece of bacon and I know my buddy has s nice small knife, you bet I'll ask to use it!

Know let's go the the other route and assume I have a hatchet or saw of some sort to handle the log cabin building and tree felling for the camp fire, a small fixed blade would be the next best choice in my book. I have a T. H. Rinaldi TTKK in BG-42 that would fit the role nicely with that dangler sheath. My Dozier Pro Guide would work well. There at least a dozen more knives I could list that I either currently own or have owned for a period of time that would fit this roll well.

Understanding the job you expect to accomplish, makes selecting the Perfect outdoorsman knife easier.

Stay Sharp,
Sid
 
Although an admitted newbie to this forum, I do have some experience with outdoor knife usage. I have no wish to bore anyone with my "qualifications" in this regard, so I'll simply echo the 4 to 5 inch blade length sentiment. Yes, I own larger knives, and they do come in handy on occassion, but when I take to the woods for an overnight excursion, I take a small folder, a medium length fixed blade, and a hatchet. The medium length fixed blade sees most of the work. I use it for all the cooking chores, line cutting, stick pointing, etc. The small folder is for whittling and back up, and the hatchet does the chopping and pounding.

Right now, my favorite medium sized fixed blade is a Fallkniven S1, but I just bought a Dozier Pro Guide, and I think it is going to see considerable use. IMHO, a knife of this kind for general outdoor use needs to cut well (sharp is nice, but edge geometry can be more important than just sharp, hold an edge reasonably well, fit my hand, and come with an ergonomically satisfying sheath. There are many good knives out there that fit this criteria and then some. Go buy a few and have fun figuring it out for yourself. That's what I'm doing. Good luck.

By the way, if I were stuck in the woods with only one knife and nothing else (even cloths, but I won't go there)
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I would like it to be at least a Busse Basic #7.

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MAT
 
I am very happy with the performance of my Becker companion. I also like to add an SAK to compliment the fixed blade.

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Have you noticed that time flies like the wind, but fruit flies like bananas ?
 
lets see if this works...
vwp


this one is made by ray kirk.i just got it the other day,and man...its awesome!
he left it kinda rough lookin',which attracted me for some reason.this knife is TOUGH. its 52100 steel,and sharper than that japanese kid that won the national spelling bee last year.
it feels pretty good in the hand,and the micarta handle has a nice finish on it.you could prolly skin a whale with it.
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the sheath is first class,too.the knife makes NO noise in the sheath,unlike some where it rattles around a bit.

if you want a good user at a good price,then by all means check out ray's work.this one aint pretty (although there were a few at the little rock show that kept grabbing my attention),but man its meaner than ole swingin meat in the county prison.

[This message has been edited by MAURICE (edited 05-26-2001).]

[This message has been edited by MAURICE (edited 05-26-2001).]
 
Next vote on Tactical Kitchen Knife plus Axe conception
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If one knife does all it does nothing decently - it is worse that axe for chopping and worse than small flat ground fixed blade for cutting.

My choice for hard trip in wilderness would be SPYDERCO Bill Moran Featherweight with drop point blade. If the knife is intended for cutting tasks only it is nothing wrong to save some weight more using decent folder like SPYDERCO Military or BENCHMADE AFCK. I use my Military pretty frequently in my kitchen and my wife considered it like an ideal knife for sandwich field making
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Would you like somewhat stronger knife? No problem, Fällkniven F1 could be way to go. BENCHMADE Nimravus or GERBER Yari are very decent alternatives if you would prefer slightly longer blade.

However if I would be limited with weight conditions to do not have any axe - Fällkniven S1 Forest Knife would be my choice.


[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 05-26-2001).]
 
First situation: you can only carry one knife due to weight limitations.

For this, I would take a Busse Steel Heart 2E (or if more chopping would be necessary the Battle Mistress E). The "SHE" is amazingly balanced so as to be a bit tip-heavy when held normally, and to be of neutral balance when the index finger is in the finger groove. It can chop AMAZINGLY well for its size.

Second situation: two knives can be carried.

I would probably take a khukuri or maybe the new BKT Patrol machete. The second knife would be a small utility knife like the Fallkniven F1.
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Andrew Lynch:
First situation: you can only carry one knife due to weight limitations.

For this, I would take a Busse Steel Heart 2E (or if more chopping would be necessary the Battle Mistress E). The "SHE" ... can chop AMAZINGLY well for its size.

Second situation: two knives can be carried.

I would probably take a khukuri or maybe the new BKT Patrol machete. The second knife would be a small utility knife like the Fallkniven F1. </font>
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I Andrew nailed it. His choices even mirror my own... I'd lean to the Battle Mistress.

I'll second the nomination for the Steve Mullin "Pack River" Camp knife. Mine is 7". I'll buy a 9" from him this fall. Super simple, super practical blade grind and comfortable simple handle, good construction, flat ground, mild convexivity to edge, great. He's not taking orders till Fall ... building a house or something.

http://www.mullin-custom-knives.com/images/camp.jpg

Two knife situation:
======================
Large: Busse BM, Brend Model 2 8.5", Fisk Bowie at 10-12"

Small: 3.5" to 4" drop point or semi-skinner. There are so many good ones... Phil Wilson in 420V, Dozier K2 Hunter @ 3.5", Fallkniven F1, Linder SuperEdge, et al.

Three knife situation:
=======================

Large: BK&T Patrol Machete (Bush Hog), or any 14" to 18" machete ($25 Ontario 18" is heavy enough to really chop). I have no khukri experience, but can understand why those that do would recommend.

Medium: Mullin Camp (7"), Dozier Ranger, RJ Martin Oddessy (sic), Busse SH E,

Small: same as above.

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I like the BK&T Magnum Camp for what it is, a big utility knife, but it is not a chopper...too light. That leaves it in the camp/food preparation/kindling mode, and for that, I'm wondering why I'd want 0170-6 and not something at least as stainless as D2.


[This message has been edited by rdangerer (edited 05-26-2001).]
 
The "one knife" scenario really puts a twist to things and brings compromise to the forefront. A Military, large SAK, Sebenza, Sebenza (did I say Sebenza?) or similar folder can slice with the best of them in the food prep and fine cutting catagory. That leaves the other camping chores and, in the absence of an axe or hatchet, light chopping. Reeve P-1, Busse SH, BM or one of the "fixed blades that are dedicated to chopping" knives will do ya just fine.

One knife however is an issue worthy of consideration, discussion and cocktail banter. With weight being a consideration, as is always the case in backpacking, one would have to really look at the P-1, Shadow IV or Busse Natural Outlaw (or similar) as the knife in that limited scenario.
 
The traditional "outdoorsman's knife" was never meant to be used as a stand-alone blade. One of the great outdoorsmen of his time was Nessmuk. Here is a pic of his cutting tools:
nessmuksknives2.jpg


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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
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